Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $348 per month in Quetta vs $423 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $548 per month in Quetta vs $670 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $747 per month in Quetta vs $917 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Quetta is about 18% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quetta and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 74% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 PKR 963

$1.75 PKR 488

97.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.48 PKR 2,926

$14.30 PKR 3,990

-26.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 PKR 1,265

$5.38 PKR 1,503

-15.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 504

$1.63 PKR 455

11.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 PKR 434

$3.53 PKR 986

-56.09%

Cappuccino

$1.66 PKR 464

$1.71 PKR 477

-2.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 PKR 128

$0.31 PKR 87.9

48.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 55.8

$0.21 PKR 58.4

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 PKR 191

$0.85 PKR 238

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.52 PKR 144

-15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 289

$1.29 PKR 360

-20.16%

Eggs

$1.13 PKR 315

$1.18 PKR 329

-4.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 PKR 1,726

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 PKR 722

$3.44 PKR 960

-24.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.21 PKR 1,176

$4.46 PKR 1,246

-5.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$1.00 PKR 280

3.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 146

$0.64 PKR 177

-18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 157

$0.86 PKR 239

-34.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 144

$0.48 PKR 134

6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 87.1

$0.36 PKR 101

-13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$0.49 PKR 136

2.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.3

$0.24 PKR 66.4

45.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 PKR 90.5

$0.36 PKR 101

-11.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.45 PKR 404

$15.92 PKR 4,443

-90.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.2

$0.99 PKR 278

-65.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 PKR 586

$2.30 PKR 643

-8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.69 PKR 193

$1.94 PKR 541

-64.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 50.4

$0.18 PKR 50.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.42 PKR 1,514

$9.95 PKR 2,777

-45.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 PKR 102

$0.84 PKR 234

-55.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 PKR 183

$0.35 PKR 98.3

85.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 507

$3.07 PKR 857

-40.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.97 PKR 271

-1.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K PKR 5.9M

$17.6K PKR 4.9M

20.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$12.4K PKR 3.5M

$23.2K PKR 6.5M

-46.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$53.8 PKR 15.0K

$103 PKR 28.7K

-47.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.39 PKR 1,784

$3.95 PKR 1,102

61.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.35 PKR 4,006

$16.31 PKR 4,551

-12.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.99 PKR 1,392

$9.99 PKR 2,788

-50.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 PKR 1,675

$7.52 PKR 2,100

-20.21%

Cinema Ticket

$2.80 PKR 781

$3.64 PKR 1,016

-23.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$34.87 PKR 9,734

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

-12.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$426 PKR 118.8K

$953 PKR 266.0K

-55.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.22 PKR 2,016

$11.64 PKR 3,250

-37.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.20 PKR 2,010

$18.40 PKR 5,137

-60.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 PKR 24.4K

$88.8 PKR 24.8K

-1.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.40 PKR 8,206

$28.47 PKR 7,947

3.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.0 PKR 19.8K

$130 PKR 36.3K

-45.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$48.89 PKR 13.6K

$64.5 PKR 18.0K

-24.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 PKR 44.5K

$327 PKR 91.3K

-51.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.4 PKR 27.5K

$174 PKR 48.5K

-43.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$384 PKR 107.1K

$1,159 PKR 323.4K

-66.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$221 PKR 61.7K

$522 PKR 145.6K

-57.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 PKR 60.3K

$174 PKR 48.4K

24.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-40.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Quetta: April 27, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.0 in Quetta versus $130 in Rawalpindi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Quetta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Quetta versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $95.0 – making Quetta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Quetta vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $522 per month in Quetta and $635 in Rawalpindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quetta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Quetta and $14.00 in Rawalpindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $348 in Quetta and $423 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Quetta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Quetta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.